Ex-Bills Draft Pick Retires After Second Team Release in Just Over a Month, Joins Buffalo Police Department
October 16, 2025 – In a striking transition from the high-stakes world of professional football to the demands of local law enforcement, a former Buffalo Bills sixth-round draft pick has announced his retirement from the NFL after enduring two releases from the team in a span of just over a month. The 23-year-old cornerback, who signed with his hometown franchise brimming with potential, will now pursue a career with the Buffalo Police Department, entering its recruit academy class next month.
The player’s NFL journey was one of early promise overshadowed by the harsh reality of injuries. Selected in the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout career at Virginia Tech, he was pegged as a versatile addition to the Bills’ secondary, offering strong coverage instincts, physicality, and a knack for playmaking that aligned with defensive coordinator Bobby Babich’s aggressive scheme. Yet, a neck injury sustained during the preseason derailed his rookie campaign, limiting him to minimal snaps and ultimately landing him on the non-football injury list before he could solidify a role.
That prospect is Dorian Strong, a Buffalo native whose lifelong fandom made his Bills opportunity feel like destiny. Strong, raised in the city’s North Buffalo neighborhood where he honed his skills at local fields, earned a brief roster spot on the practice squad in late August as injuries depleted the cornerback depth. However, a reaggravation of his neck injury during a practice session led to his first release on September 15, followed by a hopeful re-signing on September 30 that ended with another cut on October 12 after medical staff ruled him unfit for full contact. “Dorian’s talent and competitiveness were evident from day one,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said in a statement. “The injury landscape is tough, but his resolve is inspiring. We support his next steps wholeheartedly.”
Strong’s pivot to policing reflects a deep-rooted commitment to service, inspired by his mother’s career as a Buffalo schoolteacher and community advocate. In a social media post that rallied Bills Mafia and drew shoutouts from teammates like Josh Allen, he shared: “Buffalo’s in my blood—tailgates, snow games, and standing tall for our city. Thanks to the Bills for the shot; now it’s time to badge up and give back.” He will commence the Buffalo Police Academy’s intensive 26-week curriculum in November, emphasizing de-escalation tactics, community engagement, and high-pressure response—transferable skills from his gridiron tenacity.
The Bills, holding at 5-6 and scrapping for an AFC wildcard berth, have filled the void with veteran signings and other rookies in the secondary. Strong’s narrative underscores the NFL’s brevity—where the average career clocks in at 3.3 years—and the power of reinvention closer to home. As he swaps cleats for a shield, Western New York’s sports scene salutes a local hero rededicating his drive where it started.
